Art Center College of Design vs. Cleveland Institute of Music

Comparable Facts

Compare Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA with Cleveland Institute of Music in Cleveland, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Art Center College of Design is larger than Cleveland Institute of Music based on total student enrollment (2,308 students vs. 293 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Cleveland Institute of Music is in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cleveland Institute of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; Cleveland Institute of Music 6:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or Cleveland Institute of Music? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cleveland Institute of Music than Art Center College of Design ($29,683 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cleveland Institute of Music are 15.4% lower than at Art Center College of Design ($16,600 vs. $19,632).
• Art Center College of Design is 2.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cleveland Institute of Music (about $1,290 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $52,880.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at Art Center College of Design than at Cleveland Institute of Music (about $1,290 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $52,880.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cleveland Institute of Music than at Art Center College of Design (100% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland Institute of Music students is 39.2% larger than aid received by Art Center College of Design students ($31,191 vs. $22,412).

Art Center College of Design vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Art Center College of Design or Cleveland Institute of Music? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cleveland Institute of Music and Art Center College of Design.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; Cleveland Institute of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cleveland Institute of Music Dec 1, 2026.
• Art Center College of Design has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than Cleveland Institute of Music (47.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Art Center College of Design vs. 14.9% at Cleveland Institute of Music.

Art Center College of Design vs. Cleveland Institute of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and Cleveland Institute of Music? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Cleveland Institute of Music's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Art Center College of Design's (54%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $13,100 more per year than Cleveland Institute of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $45,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cleveland Institute of Music graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($27,000 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, Cleveland Institute of Music graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($279 vs. $323).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland Institute of Music students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.